The 9th Locsin Reunion (Silay City, Negros Occidental)

The 9th Locsin Reunion

Since the first Locsin grand reunion held on September 28, 1974 at the Natalio G. Velez Sports and Cultural Center, other grand reunions were held every 4 or 5 years for the descendants of the 11 children of Agustin Locsin and Cecilia Sayson.  This year, the 9th edition was held at the Silay City Civic Center from April 25-26 and more than 450 Locsin clan members from around the country and coming from as far as the United States and Spain were registered. Registration fee was PhP300 for adults and PhP100 for children aged nine years old and below. 

Song and dance number depicting the Locsin saga 

For two days, registrants participated in various activities that were lined up by organizers - a heritage tour of  some of the ancestral houses of Silay City and the new Silay Museum as well as The Ruins in nearby Talisay City; a talent show; fun games; raffles; a gala dinner; a cultural show; and a “Gimik Night.” Newly-discovered branches and sub-branches of the Locsin family tree were also be introduced and relatives, both old and new, reconnected with each other.

Tanda de Valse

Locsins doing a modern dance number

At the gala dinner held at the Kansilayan Gym, awards were given to outstanding members of the clan - Emilio "Jay" Abello VI for cinema and photography; Silay City Mayor Jose “Oti” Montelibano for public service; Robin Abello for information technology; Teodoro "Teddy Boy" Locsin Jr. for journalism; and the Negros Volunteers for Change Foundation Inc. for community & social service.

Teddy Boy Locsin delivering his Teditorial

As with every reunion, the Tanda de Valse (the "shifting of waltzes"), a Locsin tradition, was relived on stage during the cultural show. 

A master composition of Silaynon composer and conductor Jose "Pitong" Ledesma, this musical masterpiece was originally created for a past love and was given life, through dance, by Ms. Medy Locsin-Garcia. During the gala dinner, it was performed by the group of Ms. Marissa Montelibano, the First Lady of Silay City, with the Kabataang Silay Rondalla.  A song and dance presentation,  depicting the Locsin saga, from 1750 to the present, was also performed.  

Joey Benin with wife Bing singing "Forevermore"

Cocoy Laurel and Nisa Limjap

During the talent show, the talents of the Locsin clan members were put on display. Mr. Teddy Boy Locsin delivered his Teditorial, and the crowd was regaled by performances from Mr. Victor "Cocoy" Laurel, Ms. Nisa Limjap, Mr. Joey Benin (former member of the Side A band) with wife Ms. Eva Marie "Bing" Ledesma-Benin, singing Joey's composition "Forevermore,"and daughter Clara Benin, and the Garcia Sanchez School of Dance. 

Two Sony Bravia 32" flat screen TVs as grand prizes well as Cebu Pacific round trip tickets to Bacolod City were also raffled off to  lucky members of the clan.